Denture brush and dispenser



May s, 1941. A. WATER@ 2,240,876

DENTURE BRUSH AND DISPENSER Filed June 24, 1940 Syvum/vm, AZF/QED WATERUD,

Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATESl PATENT ori-ICE 2,240,876 DEN'rUnEmwen AND DISPENSER 1* Alfred wetend, Los Angeles, Calif.

` Application June 24, 1940, Serial No. 342,153

' (ci. 15-1s4) io claims.

` This is an application growing out of my former case, Serial No.112,912, allowed December l0, 1937, Denture brush and dispenser, sinceabandoned. in which the first six claims herein were allowed.

My invention relates to brushes intended for use in cleaning dentures.

The main purpose of my invention is to provide an easily accessiblebrush capable Aof use in a holder or handle of general tubular type andreversible in the holder, alternatively, for protection of the brush orfor use.

A further purpose is to provide a hollow holder within which is areversible sleeve and to mount the brush within the sleeve so as toslide in it. reversing from a position in which -the sleeve protects thebrush to a position in which the sleeve helps support the brush when inuse.

A further purpose is to use one end of the holder for alternativebrushsupport and protection and the other end of the holder forreceiving and dispensing a powder to be used with the brush. Y

A further purpose is to provide a capsule for powder which may beinserted bodily within a tubular holder and which capsule is held spacedfrom the outlet of the holder by the walls of a dispenser, permittingcontrol of the' outlet by the dispenser. i

Further purposes will' appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate the invention by a few forms only amongthe many forms in which the invention may appear, selecting the formswith a view to breadth of disclosure and without attempting to show allof those in which the invention may be presented.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective showing a sleeve and brush inposition to be inserted within the holder.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section showing the structure andwith a capsule partly sectioned.

Figure 3 isa section taken upon line 3-3 of Figure 2. v Figure 4 'is afragmentary longitudinal section showing-the brush protected by thesleeve and mechanism for holding the sleeve and brush together, thesleeve and brush being reversed 'tive view of the body and cap.

tions and partly in side elevation of the preferred `embodiment of myinvention. i

Figure is a fragmentary longitudinal sec- 4 tional view of theembodiments shown in Figure 9, with the brush unit shown in a projectingposition.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment,showing the sleeve and the holder in? a separated position.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side view of another embodiment.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the cap and cartridge shown in Figure9.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the capend of the holder and the cap,shown in Figure l2.

Similar numerals indicate like parts throughoutthe speciiication.

The character of the denture brushes in past has been dictated largelyby the desire for cheapness of construction or supposed utility in theuse of the brush. 'I'here has been little ap` preciation of the dangersfrom uncleanliness due to exposure of the exposed brush and littlerecognition of the convenience as well as theIv sanitary advantage ofmounting the brushwithin a closure suitable for packet carriage. Thepresent construction is intended to mount tect the brush itself and toprovidega to be used with the brush, all within; andupon a tubularholder of general fountain r-pexsliape capable ofbeing carried as afountain ,p'enf As illustrated my invention icinprisesY fprimarily abody, handle or holder 6 whichvis tubular at one open endto receivesleeve] .preferably engaging the stop 8 which is shown as a partitionbut which may be merely the inner end of the front opening 9 (seen atthe lefthand end of Figure 2).` Because of thedesire to use the holderas a receptacle for a carton for holding powder, the entire body isshown as tubular and as presenting cylindrical open ends 9 and I0 forreception of the sleeve at the front end and of a dispensing stop Il atthe opposite (rear) end.

The sleeve is of diameter at each end suitable to form a friction twithin the open end 9, so that either end I2 or i3 of the sleeve may bemounted firmly in the front end of the holder, exposing the opposite endof the sleeve.

'I'he sleeve forms an intermediate holder for a brush Il which isrigidly mounted .within an the inner shell l5 slidable within the outersleeve 1. In Figure 6 the brush socket I6 screws into the shell I5 andthe brush can be removed for cleaning.

The shell I5 and the brush I4 together form a. brush unit 'which isguided by the shell of the brush in longitudinal sliding movement withinthe sleeve l. Suitable means is taken to prevent withdrawal of the brushunit from the shell and the sliding movement within .the sleeve l.Suitable means is taken to prevent withdrawal of the brush unit from theshell and the sliding movement is further restrictedby the fact thateither ,the brush end or the shell end of the unit engages the stoppositioning the unit with the shell in the outer sliding position withinthe sleeve.

When the brush end is inward this means that the brush will be enclosedwithin the sleeve and this end of the sleeve will also be enclosedwithin the end of the holder, forming a double protection for the brush.

When the back of the shell of the brush unit engages the stop the brushwill be extended to its limit from the front of the sleeve and will beheld in position foruse as shown clearly in Figure 2. In this positionthe engagement of the rear end of the brush unit with the stop 8 tendsto steady the brush in its position and to prevent rotation of the brushunit. Because of the undesirability of rotation other means is shownherein for positively preventing rotation although the brush willoperate even if rotation can take place. This prevention of rotation ismost conveniently provided by pin and slot connection of the brush unitwith the sleeve or with a lining for the sleeve and two forms of thisare ShOWn a lining I9', but the ends of the slot are not relied uponhere to prevent removal. Removal is prevented by anges 22', 23'. In thisform the lining is provided conveniently by the use of a at strip oflining material which is bent to form a cylinder which is not quitecomplete. The spacing between the ends of the strip where they do notquite meet forms the slot within which pin i12 travels. Here again oneat least of the inwardly directed flanges 22', 23 should for conveniencebe turned inwardly after the brush unit and lining have vbeen insertedWithin the sleeve. The lining in this case should prefably be ofresilient material.

AWhere the holder is tubul'ar the rear end of the holder is preferablyused as a receiver for powder to be used on the brush. This powder isintended to be provided in capsule or cartridge form (see Figs, 2, 9 andl2). Where one end 2t of the capsule or cartridge 25 has been opened,the capsule is slid into the tubular holder, closed end 2t first,permitting the content 2l of the4 capsule to spill out (Fig. 2) into thespace 2-8 at the rear end of the capsule Within the holder. From thisspace it is dispensed through matching apertures 29 and 30 in thehol-der and in a.

- cap I I which can be tunred to a'ct as a valve. The

CTL

In Figure 8 the outer surface of the dispensing cap is formed as ahexagon at 35 so that its noncircularcontour will prevent the completeddevice from rolling when it is rested on vits side. This function,however, may be performed by a pocket clip 36 shown in FlgureZ. By thepocket clip the device is suited for carrying in the pocket. Presumablythe hexagonal device of Figure 8 is better suited for use by ladies whowould carry it in the handbag and the clip form is better suited for useby men to attach to the vest pocket.

It will be evident that the device is so fully portable as to greatlyincrease its convenience and usefulness and that the brush is so fullyprotected from contamination as to attract thev attention of thefastidious Durcha .ing public.v

The holder may be made to advantage of transparent or of translucentmaterial which is light in weight. The construction is very compact andso nearly conforms to the shape of a fountain pen that the well-knowngraceful con sonable spirit and scope of my invention.

l Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a brush, a holder having an open end and a stop within the end incombination with a sleeve adapted for insertion of either end within theopen end of the holder and a brush unit movable in the sleeve to expos-eoutside of the` sleeve either end of the brush unit and to protect theother end of the unit within' the holder.

2. A brush comprising a handle having a tubular open end, a sleevereversibly fitting into the .open end, a brush unit including a brushbody, slidable lengthwise in said sleeve. adapted to' project the brushoutwardly from the sleeve for use, in one position oi' the unit andsleeve. and by sliding within the sleeve and sleeve reversal adapted toprotect the brush within the sleeve and open end of the handle.

3. A denture brush comprising a handle having s. tubular open front, asleeve, both of whose ends are adapted to fit, one at a time, into thetubular front, a brush unit slidable longitudi` nally in the sleeve,means for preventing rotation of the brush unit in the sleeve. means forpreventing withdrawal of the brush unitfrom the sleeve, and a stopwithin the tubular end engaged by the brush unit to hold the brushagainst sliding and to holdthe brush extended for use. 4. A denturebrush comprising a holder having a tubular open end, a sleeve fitting ateither end within the tubular opening and having inwardly turned sleeveend flanges, a brush unit having a brush at one end and a brush body atA the other, each at all times passing through and guided by one of theflanges, and a stop upon the brush body preventing withdrawal of the lbrush unit from the sleeve.

5. A dispenser of tubular character having an open end, apertured in thelateral wall at the end, in combination with a capsule adapted tocontain powder, open at the rear end of the capsule and a rotatable capfitting in the open end of the dispenser, having an aperture adapted tobe Yturned intoregistration with the lateral aperture in the dispenserand located in line with the capsule, whereby the capsule is preventedfrom movement to close od the'openings.

6. In a device of the class described the combination of a tubularholder provided in its side with an aperture and with 'an open end, acap provided with a tubular extension, said tubular extension providedwith an aperture in its side, said extension positioned within the openend of said holder, a cartridge provided with'an open end and a slot insaid cartridge near said open end, said extension of the cap positionedin the Y' a cap on said holder and provided Witha lug movable withinsaid slot, a cartridge detachably mounted on said cap and in saidtubular holder, and said cartridge and holder provided with registeringapertures, whereby powder can be discharged from the cartridge to theouter atmosphere. Y .r

8. In al device 'of the class described the combination of a tubularholder provided with an elongated slot in one end and with an aperture.

a cap provided with a longitudinally-extending slot and with anoutstanding lug, said longitudinally-extending slot being 'adapted toregister with said aperture, and said lug in the elongated slot of saidholder, whereby rotary movement of the cap is limited upon said holder.

9. In a device of the class described the combination of a tubularholder provided with a tubular extension. said extension provided withL- shaped slots. a tubular sleeve provided with in,.

wardly extending lugsfor limiting further outward movement of the brushunit upon said sleeve.

i ALFRED WATERUD.

